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Politics

Medical Marijuana Advocate Nikki Fried Enters Agriculture Commissioner Race

June 18, 2018 - 6:00am
Nikki Fried
Nikki Fried

Lobbyist Nikki Fried has entered the Democratic primary to be Florida’s next agriculture commissioner, launching her bid on Monday and showcasing her support for medical marijuana. 

Fried, who served as student body president of the University of Florida, has been a leading lobbyist on behalf of medical marijuana expansion through Ignite Florida. As she launches her new campaign, Fried made it clear that medical marijuana will be one of the cornerstone issues she will focus on. 

"Our government is broken," Fried says in the web video launching her new campaign. "There is no clearer example of our broken government than medical marijuana.”

Fried also insisted that her ability to bring people together and her role as a political outsider can help her new effort. 

"I’m running because Tallahassee needs leadership that will actually serve the people of Florida, and listen to what the people want. It’s not about right or left; it’s about getting things done,” Fried said as she began her new campaign. 

Besides medical marijuana, the new candidate promises to “help revitalize the struggling agriculture industry in Florida by advocating for legislation to allow the growing of industrial hemp (currently authorized as a pilot program); support Florida farmers still recovering from the combined devastation of Hurricane Irma and citrus canker; ensure that industry concerns are properly balanced with environmental and consumer protections; emphasize and strengthen the role of the Department in consumer services, protections and advocacy; and to be an independent voice on the Florida Cabinet on issues of clemency, oversight of the state pension fund, and major land-use decisions.” 

In the video, Fried also says guns have too few regulations on them.

The new candidate joins Homestead Mayor Jeff Porter and biologist R. David Walker in the Democratic primary field. On the Republican side, state Rep. Matt Caldwell, state Sen. Denise Grimsley, former gubernatorial and U.S. Senate hopeful retired Army Col. Mike McCalister and former state Rep. Baxter Troutman are running. 

https://youtu.be/Gh03OBMWij0

Comments

As a grower of tropical fruits and produce in South Florida for over 10 years, I found that special interests dominated State and Federal agricultural policies. Federal assistance in my experience always flowed to the moneyed producers, not smaller farmers. Disasters, even normal weather variations, pose risks that farmers everywhere have to live with. But with unfair competition from Government-aided big farmers and foreign producers, the pressures to leave agribusiness become intolerably severe. There are so many challenges: but when someone with no background in agriculture, much less consumer protection and gun control, decides to up his or her game by aspiring to State office, we the taxpayers and voters put our heads in the noose by inviting them in. Although his chances against a Republican billionaire-sponsored candidate may be miniscule, Roy David Walker is a far better candidate than Nikki Fried!

Good to see a strong voice for reason getting involved and stepping up to run and influence a saner police finally for access to marijuana. 71 percent of Floridians voted for it but Gov. Rick Scott tried and is still trying to subvert with his health department.

So because she supports marijuana she's qualified to be agriculture commissioner! I think the bar for this job is a little higher.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMEONE WITH AN AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND, IN THE POSITION OF COMMISSIONER. THIS GOES WITHOUT QUESTION. AS FAR AS MARIJUANA, I THINK IT SHOULD BE MADE COMPLETELY ILLEGAL. MARIJUANA IS KNOW TO CURE INCURABLE DISEASES, ILLNESSES, SYNDROMES, SEIZURES, AND IS FAR MORE NATURAL IN PHARMACEUTICALS. ONE THING I WOULD RECOMMEND PEOPLE IS NOT TO SMOKE, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN ANY KIND OF SMOKE. MARIJUANA CAN BE MADE INTO OILS, CAPSULES, AND WAFERS. AS WITH ANY OTHER SUBSTANCE, AND OVERDOSE WILL LEAD INTO HORRIFIC SIDE AFFECTS. ONE SHOULD BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE. VARIOUS DOSAGES WOULD BE ARRANGED. ABOVE ALL AND I DO MEAN ABOVE ALL ELSE, DO NOT LET THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LAY ONE HAND ON THIS PRODUCT, OR ELSE THEY WILL AND SHALL TOTALLY DESTROY IT, AND WE WILL STILL REMAIN SICK.

WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT MARIJUANA SHOULD BE MADE LLEGAL. I HAD TO MAKE THIS CORRECTION. IT SHOULD BE MADE LEGAL FOR EVERYONE!!!

WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT MARIJUANA SHOULD BE MADE LLEGAL. I HAD TO MAKE THIS CORRECTION. IT SHOULD BE MADE LEGAL FOR EVERYONE!!!

WHAT I WAS SAYING IS THAT MARIJUANA SHOULD BE MADE LLEGAL. I HAD TO MAKE THIS CORRECTION. IT SHOULD BE MADE LEGAL FOR EVERYONE!!!

Take a deep breath, step back, and take another big hit off that doobie and say what you were going to say!!

another person that knows noting about agriculture running for the position... It would be like a lobbyist, non-attorney running for AG...too funny.

Nikki Fried donated to Adam Putnam, Ashley Moody, and other Republicans. What Democrats has she contributed to? She should have run on the Republican side, not Democrat.

Oh great another lobbyist runs for office! I'm sure it will turn out like last time when the lobbyist-turned Congressman said all the right things, but only 'worked' for his fellow lobbyists instead of his constituents. No Thanks!!!!

A breath of fresh air I would like to know her views on Industrial HEMP as well She has my V O T E

I believe industry hemp can be the next cash crop of Florida which such tremendous benefits. Fully support expanding our program significantly.

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